Message of Peace Light, now in U.S., seen as more urgent amid Israel-Hamas war December 4, 2023By Alicia Venter OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News As Catholics across the New York metropolitan area were given the opportunity to light their first candle of the Advent season the weekend of Dec. 2-3, a flame drawn from a source that dates back 1,000 years arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens.
Exile: Don’t underestimate Nicaragua church’s ‘prophetic voice’ amid repression December 4, 2023By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News In the face of Nicaragua’s authoritarian regime, “the prophetic voice of the Catholic Church cannot be underestimated,” said an opposition leader recently exiled to the U.S., who joined fellow speakers at a Dec. 1 presentation on the church’s role in preserving democratic freedom.
Humanity must build alliances supporting peace, creation, pope says December 4, 2023By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Environment, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The world needs people to build alliances that are not against others, but are in favor of everyone, Pope Francis told faith leaders at the U.N. Climate Change Conference being held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Fighting in Holy Land, bombing in Philippines prompt prayers from ailing Pope December 4, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The end of the temporary cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas “means death, destruction, misery,” Pope Francis said.
Explosion in Philippines kills four during Mass; Pope Francis expresses closeness to suffering families December 4, 2023By Maria-Pia Negro Chin OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, World News A deadly bomb that exploded during a Mass Dec. 3 killed at least four people and injured dozens at a university in a predominantly Muslim city in southern Philippines.
Answer Advent call for vigilance with charity, confession, pope suggests December 4, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Advent, News, Vatican, World News The Advent call for “vigilance” does not mean staying awake and watchful out of fear, but rather out of a longing for the coming of the Lord, Pope Francis wrote.
Pope calls world leaders to end divisions to fight climate change December 4, 2023By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Environment, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The future of humanity depends on what people choose now, Pope Francis said in his message to global leaders at the World Climate Action Summit of the U.N. Climate Change Conference.
New Jersey priest’s devotion to saint helps bring her life to the big screen December 4, 2023By Joe Jordan OSV News Filed Under: Movie & Television Reviews, News, Saints, World News For the last decade, Msgr. Paul Bochicchio of St. Francis Church in Hoboken has been advising as a spiritual consultant on the upcoming film “Cabrini,” produced by Angel Studios about the life and ministry of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, set to debut in theaters in March 2024.
Report: Fewer states use capital punishment, but more prisoners executed in 2023 December 4, 2023By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, World News Just five states — Texas, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma and Alabama — carried out executions in 2023, while a majority of U.S. states have banned or paused the practice by executive order, according to a new report by the Death Penalty Information Center.
Annual collection to help elderly men, women religious to be held Dec. 9-10 December 4, 2023By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Giving, News, World News Most U.S. dioceses will take up an annual collection Dec. 9-10 to help approximately 24,000 elderly religious sisters, brothers and religious order priests pay for retirement necessities, including health care.
Holy ink: Tattoo culture shows faith is not skin deep, sociologist says December 3, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Feature, News, World News The Catholic Church cannot measure people’s engagement with religion only by looking at church attendance, but also must observe how they express religious sentiments outside of church — even on their own bodies, a Jesuit priest said.
Black Catholic hero of charity, fed by the Eucharist, inspires faithful to holiness December 3, 2023By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Black Catholic Ministry, Feature, News, Saints, World News Pierre Toussaint, declared “venerable” in 1997 by St. John Paul II, was born into slavery in St. Mark, Haiti, (then known as the French colony of Saint-Domingue) in 1766 and died a free man in New York in 1853.
